Summary: Part 3 in a series on the Lord’s Prayer

INTRO. – At the beginning Jesus gives a warning against self-seeking prayer. God is to have priority in every aspect of our lives, and certainly in our times of deepest communion with Him. Praying is not to be a casual routine that gives passing homage to God, but should open up dimensions of reverence, awe, appreciation, honor, and adoration.

God’s name signifies more than titles. It represents all that He is—His character, plan, and will. It is not because we simply know God’s titles that we love and trust Him, but because we know His character. Invoking His name reminds us of His character.

On page 51 in our hymnal is a song titled "Holy, Holy, Holy." I have sung that song many times not fully understanding the meaning of the word holy.

For many of us the holiness of God relates to the sinlessness of God. However, it is a much broader subject than that.

The first thing I want you to consider with me:

I. THE MEANING OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD

A. The word that is translated holy in the bible literally means to divide.

1. Holiness is that which divides someone from other things and other persons. To divide in the sense of marking off, setting apart, separating from other persons and other things.

2. To put it another way holiness is that which makes you distinct, different and set apart from others. Holiness can go so far to mean that which is unique about an individual or a person.

B. The exact opposite word for holiness in the bible is the word profane which means common or ordinary.

1. We can draw the conclusion then that holiness is that which is distinct, unique and different from that which is common or ordinary. It is set apart and separated from the common or ordinary.

a. Ezekiel 22:26 says, "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."

b. The priest had taken the things that God intended to be different and distinct and had made them common or ordinary.

a. Exodus 20:8-11 says, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."

b. The Sabbath day was called the holy Sabbath because God intended that day to be different from the other six days.